Combined computing device and weighing-scale.



No. 628,559. Patented July H, I899.

J. H. STEPHENS.

COMBINED COMPUTING DEVICE AND WEIGHING SCALE.

(Application filed Jan. 6, 1898.)

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No. 628,559. Patented July ",1899. J. H. STEPHENS.

COMBINED COMPUTING DEVICE AND WEIGHING SCALE.

(Application filed Jan. 6, 1898.} (No Model.)

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No. 628,559. Patented July ll, I899. J. H. STEPHENS.

COMBINED COMPUTING DEVICE AND WEIGHING SCALE.

(Application filed Jan. 8, 1898.)

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No. 628,559. Patented July ll, I899.

J. H. STEPHENS.

COMBINED COMPUTING DEVICE AND WEIGHING SCALE.

(Application filed Jan, 8, 1898.)

(No Model.)

5 Sheets8hoet 5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. STEPHENS, OF -VERNON, TEXAS.

COMBINED COMPUTING DEVICE AND WElGHlNG-SCALE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,559, dated July 11,1899.

Application filed January 6, 1898. Serial No. 665,789. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. STEPHENS, citizen of the United States,residing at Vernon, in the county of lVilbarger and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined ComputingDevice and VVeighing-Scale and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention has reference to improvements in computing devices incombination with weighing-scales; and it consists of cer tain novelfeatures of construction which will be hereinafter fully described inthe specification, illustrated in the drawings, and point ed outin theclaims.

The object of the present invention is to construct a simple,economical, and portable combined computing and weighing scale forordinary use so simple in its operation that an illiterate person canmanipulate it with as much facility as one trained to the practical useof more complicated devices.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide interchangeable strips ofmetal or any other desirable material having marked thereon aprice-scale to correspond to and to register with the pound-marks on thescale-arc; also, to have indicated on these portable strips the priceper pound for all commodities sold H bya person having one of myimprovedcomputing and weighing devices.

Afurther object of myinvention is to provide an arc of increasing radiusfor a weighing-scale in combination with a computing device, said areresembling somewhat in contour a logarithmic curve. By this means Iobviate the necessity of providing additional weights on a oounterpoisewhen weighing.

A further object of the present invention is to employ a spur-wheel forsuspending the weighing-post, which is provided with a suitable rack forengagement with the spur or toothed wheel.

Afurther object of the invention is to employ a modified counterbalance,consisting of a rack suspended on the opposite side of the spur-wheel,which meshes with the weighingpost rack.

A further object of my invention is to so cate the weighing-platform onor near the same level with the computing-platform.

To more fully elucidate my inventioml will proceed to describe thedrawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of my improved computingand weighing device, some of the parts being broken away and shown insection. Fig. 2 is a detail in plan view on a reduced scale. Fig. 3 isalso a side elevation of my improved device, being broken away and shownin section and the computing strip or are removed. Fig. 4 is a rearelevation of my improved device with the scales removed. Fig. 5 is aplan or top view of the device with onlya portion of the scales shown.Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modified form ofcounterbalance. Fig. 7is a side elevation of my device with the arcsextended and shown in a suspended form. Fig. 8 is a front elevation ofthe suspended device.

My invention consists of a base A forsupporting the weighing andcomputing device. &5

The device is also provided with supplemental bases a and a,respectively. Secured to base a are standards A for supporting thegeneral weighing mechanism. Secured to the upper portion of saidstandards A is a bracket B, which supports friction-rollers I) Z), &c.,for keeping in alinement and allowing a reciprocating movement to a post0. Said post 0 has an extension 12 at its lowermost end, which isjointed at 11 and which is provided with a knife-edge bearing forsupporting the free end of a lever 10, which will be hereinafter morefully set forth.

Located in standards A are roller-bearings for retaining in positionshaft E, said shaft supporting a spur gear-wheel F, which meshes intothe rack formed by pins 0, located in post 0, previously referred to.Mounted immediately in front and adjacent to said gearwheel is are ofincreasing radius G, which is provided with a strap 9 and asuitableweight G. Said strap may be of any suitable material, but flexible steelis preferable for this purpose. Said adjustable increasing arc G isprovided with flanges g on its opposite sides (only one side being shownin the draw ings) for seating an adjustable steel strap g which fitsclosely to the curved face of said are G. Said flanges g are tapped atintervals for receiving set-screws g for extending or contracting thesteel strip g as occasion may require, to regulate said are, so that theindex-hand II will accord or register with the pound-marks on the arc J.Located on the same shaft is a coun terbalancing-arc T, which is ofequal radius throughout and which is provided with a weight if and chaint. Said weight is to balance the post 0, platform D, and the variousparts pertaining thereto, and also to keep the weighing index-hand II atZero when said platform D is not loaded with any commodity. On theforward end of said shaft E is a duplex index-hand II, which is providedwith a tail end H and an adjustable ball 77., the latter being providedwith a set-screw 77., so as to adjust said ball to eX- actly balancesaid hand. By this means said hand can describe any number of degrees ofare above ninety degrees without adding or subtracting from thecommodity to be weighed. Mounted on the base A and the standards A bymeans of arms I and I is a graduated arc J, having a base J, which hasindicated on its front and rear faces the pounds and fractions thereof.Said are is held in a rigid position by a brace K, extending from arms Iand I, respectively.

Secured to the graduated arc J are spring actuating supports j forreceiving the grad uated price-strips L, which have indicated thereonthe price of the commodity at a certain rate per pound. These stripswill give the sum total of any pounds indicated on the scale-a c .I bymeans of the duplex indexhand Hr For instance, if the duplex-hand IIwould indicate seven pounds at four cents per pound the computing-arc Lwould indicate twenty-eight cents exactly opposite said seven pounds, ascan be readily understood by observing Fig. 1 of the accompanyingdrawings.

111 Fig. 3 the computing-arc L has been removed to exhibit thearc-supports j.

In Fig. 5 the spring-actuating device is fully illustrated. Thecomputing-arc L is shown in section, the outside edge of which restsagainst the spring-catch], which is provided rearwardly with a shoulder,so as to hold said computing-arc in position, the tension of the springportion 9' of said catchy" being snfficient through frictional contactto prevent said are L from becoming detached. WVhen desirable to removeone computingarc and substitute another at a different price per pound,the weigher by putting two fingers on opposite side of the middle catchand behind said computing-arc can readily remove it by a quick orspasmodic jerk or a continuous pull. A number of these computing-strutsL are employed withthe price per pound marked in large figures at thetop of each strip, as shownin the various figures, this part of thecomputing-strip being an arc of a circle, as indicated at L.

The friction-roller frame I is secured by bolts to the rear standard A,the friction rollers b overhanging, thus making it more accessible whendesiring to examine or lubricate any of the moving parts of myimproveddevice.

It is preferable in this device to place the weighing-scales propernearly on a level with the base a, as it is more convenient than havingit located on post 0, as indicated in my previous applications. Thisdevice is operated by levers having knife-edge bearings, the platform orbase a supporting a post 7, which is provided with an overhanging arm 9and a knife-edge bearing for fulcruming a lever 10, previously referredto. The levers communicating from the scale proper to the post 0 can beeither single or compounded, as occasion may require.

In Fig. 6 the counterbalance consists of a suspended rack T, providedwith pins t and a weight t and held in position by frictionrollers Twhich are mounted in asuitable frame bolted to the standards A.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, which show my device in a somewhat modifiedform, it being suspended by chains S by the arc-supportsj, the arcs Land J respectively, being one hundred and eighty degrees, so as to beselfbalancing, L indicates the distinguishing pound-mark, as thesearc-strips L are removable, similar to those indicated in the previousfigures.

The weighing-platform D is suspended by a chain or cord d. Theincreasing arc G is provided with a weight and chain g for operating theindex-hand H This device is provided with a rear overhanging frame A forbalancing the scales through the medium of the chains S, previouslyreferred to.

Having described my invention, that which I desire to secure by LettersPatent of the United States is 1. A pendulum-scale provided with an arcof increasing radius, a toothed wheel on the arc-shaft, of a rack incombination with levers bearing knife-edges connected to aplatform-scale,and a pound-arm,and interchangeable computing-strips, forascertaining the amount weighed and price thereof, through the medium ofa pointer as specified.

2. A platform-scale in combination with levers connecting to a pendulumscale, through the medium of a rack, toothed wheel, are of increasingradius and weight thereon, for ascertaining the weight and price of anycommodity, by means of a pointer as specified.

In a weighing-scale provided with an are of increasing radius, a toothedwheel having i rack held in vertical alinement by rollers,

a counterbalancing-rack, and Weighing-post and operating apendulum-scale through the operating said arc, a shaft supporting saidmedium of a rack-wheel and an arc of increastoothed Wheel and are, andan index-hand on ing radius for ascertaining the amount and I5 5 thefree end of said shaft for indicating the price thereof, through apointer as specified.

number of pounds weighed, in combination In testimony whereof I affix mysignature with spring-actuating supports and interin presence of twoWitnesses.

changeable price-strips having the price per i JOHN H. STEPHENS. poundon said strips for each commodity Witnesses: 1o Weighed, substantiallyas described. REEVE LEWIS,

4:. In combination with a platform-scale, a \V. REES EDELEN.

